Mazda6 Sport

Mazda6 Sport.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

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What is a family car in 2013? Looking at shopping centre carparks, school drop-off zones and suburban streets, there is very little evidence that it is what it was a decade ago – and the sales charts prove that.

The popularity of traditional four-door sedans has severely diminished in recent years as families turn to everything from small hatchbacks and SUVs to four-door utes as everyday runabouts.

That, however, hasn’t left car makers that heavily rely on sedan sales to let them wither on the vine, as was proven last year with the Toyota Camry Hybrid becoming Drive’s first hybrid-powered Car of the Year category winner.

The fuel-sipping mid-sizer was out to defend its crown this year against the Mazda6 Sport and the much-improved Holden Commodore Evoke.

The locally-built large car is under serious pressure, and Holden’s VF upgrade introduced earlier this attempted to arrest any perceptions that it is not up scratch in terms of refinement, quality and fuel economy. And it needs to be commended for the advances it has achieved, particularly with the entry-level Evoke that replaces both the Omega and Berlina specifications.

It not only costs less, starting at $34,990, but is loaded with more gear, looks more modern, is quieter on the road and more comfortable than before.

Judges praised the Commodore’s level of standard equipment, including a reversing camera within its upgraded infotainment system, but where the higher grade models truly offer world-class value for money with their suite of high-tech safety features and luxurious or sporty ambience, the Evoke still has elements that feel they’ve had more input from the beancounters than the designers.

On the flipside, its 3.0-litre V6 produces the most power among this category’s finalists with 190kW and 290Nm of pulling power and, while it is not as refined and a little noisier under acceleration, it does feel more energetic and shifts the Commodore’s larger mass with relative ease.

Ultimately, it is not as economical as its typically smaller-engined rivals and matching Holden’s claimed 8.3L/100km consumption is difficult in everyday driving, and that held it back to the bottom step of the family car podium.

“It’s a great car with heaps of space in the back and it drives better than any Commodore before,” commented one judge. “The electric steering is great and dynamically it is comfortable and quiet on the road. I appreciate everything that Holden has done to improve the Commodore, but the game has changed.

“I get the sense it was hamstrung by decisions made a decade ago with the [previous generation] VE [Commodore that arrived in 2006] that simply can’t be undone. The VF is the best Australian car we’ve ever created – hands down – but SUVs do a better job for many families these days.”

At the opposite end of the scale, the Camry Hybrid continued to earn praise from the judges for the outstanding fuel economy from its 151kW/270Nm 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain and seamless CVT automatic.

Its front-wheel drive underpinnings ensure it has generous rear-seat space for five, but its battery pack does reduce the boot size down to 421L and restricts its flexibility without folding rear seats.

With a couple of years under its belt, the Camry is starting to lose out in terms of equipment – lacking parking sensors and sat nav in the $34,990 base-model tested, for example – and although it rides comfortably on its 16-inch alloy wheels, it is far from exciting to drive with its vague steering and wooden brake feel.

It was a tough decision for the judges – the Camry scoring top votes from two of the six experts – but, in the end, the Mazda6 Sport knocks it off the family car perch.

At $33,460 it is cheaper than both the Camry and Commodore while its suite of SkyActiv technologies – from a lighter body construction to its capacitor-based mild hybrid system – brings advanced technology to the masses.

The fact that the Mazda6 is almost as big as the Commodore in overall length (it is just 40mm shorter) and offers a similar amount of interior space yet is almost 160kg lighter was recognised by the judges.

“It’s a big car, but it doesn’t feel or look like one,” one judge commented.

More than that though, the Mazda’s 138kW 2.5-litre four cylinder is not only smooth and refined but produces almost as much pulling power (250Nm) as the larger capacity Commodore and electric-assisted Camry, providing it with adequate levels of performance.

Its six-speed auto is well-mated to the engine with smooth shifts and an unobstrusive start-stop system helps to save fuel in city traffic, and makes its claimed 6.6L/100km fuel consumption near achievable in most driving situations.

What really edged it ahead of the Camry was its modern styling, sharper dynamics, more flexible interior and greater value as it is loaded with features such as sat nav and reversing camera.

So, if you still prescribe to the conventional sedan formula, the Mazda6 Sport is the modern family car.

DCOTY 2013: Best Family Car

HAVE YOUR SAY

This was another tough category for our experts to come to a defined winner. All three cars tick the boxes as affordable, spacious and well-equipped family cars, and the Evoke is a big leap forward for Holden's entry-level Commodore while the Camry continues to set the pace in terms of economy. But the Mazda offers a sweet middle ground that almost matches the Commodore for space and the Camry for efficiency, but does so with more style and dynamic substance. Did our judges pick the best family car?

These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.

10 comments so far

Why would anyone buy a four cylinder Mazda6 Sport when for just $1500 more they could have a V6 Evoke? The 6 is undoubtedly a fine car but it is way too expensive for what it is. Accord Euro and Camry Altise are both $3000 cheaper and do the job just as well.

If fuel economy is such an important factor, why not test an LPG Evoke? And why put one of the most expensive Camry models up against two base-models? There is simply no consistency here which is why there is still only one CoTY that has any worth (and it's not this one). The real difference is that with the real CoTY, you can sit down and work out for yourself which car will win, because their criteria and testing methodology are consistent and objective. With this one, the only thing you can predict is that locally made cars will take a beating, deserved or not.

Commenter

MotorMouth

Location

Sydney

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 9:54AM

The fact is Drive has reserved a lot of trophies for the new VW Golf and its variants early this year. Now they have no choice but to listen to the voice of the everyday car users. When they have so many spots to fill after removing the VW, they have been caught out. So they come up with this list, just bear with it. LOL!

Commenter

Lam

Location

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 1:49PM

Errrm...Why would anyone buy a V6 Evoke when for $1500 less they could have a four cylinder Mazda6 Sport?

Commenter

pwp

Location

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 2:18PM

Simple. The 6 is a car for 2013, the Commodore is a car for 2003. Times have changed. The 6 is far superior, in every way. You'd only buy a Commodore if you are die hard bogan who has to do burnouts.

Commenter

Jeff

Location

Date and time

December 03, 2013, 1:28PM

Because this is a family car category, power counts for nothing if it is just as roomy, its alot more thirsty, and sports outdated interior and exterior design. Depreciation also has alot to meaning to the average family, look at the resale value on your commodore, appalling. The Mazda retains at least 10% more value after 5 years, on a $40k car, that's $4k or more come trade-in time.

Commenter

GH

Location

Date and time

December 04, 2013, 4:47PM

Dear readers.

It may be beneficial for you to read some of my extended responses to Jeff's assertions in this Drive article. Most if not all of which still holds true:http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/2013-car-of-the-year-20131128-2ycgh.html

Commenter

J

Location

Sydney

Date and time

December 13, 2013, 3:47PM

I have a previous gen Mazda 6 Wagon classic, and have also previously owned a 2004 6 Hatch, and 2009 3 SP23. All great cars, and Mazda service is awesome. But, do not believe the fuel efficiency figures of the 6. When loaded up with the family, and all the bits the family needs, means that little 2.5ltr engine works hard... and drinks accordingly. My car is averaging about 10.9 litres per 100 with 70% being highway driving.

But as for the current new gen 6, I went to see if it's worth trading my current one in and upgrading. The boot is to small once the full size spare goes in. Even with the wagon. It's just to narrow to be of any use once a pram goes in and so on. Also, getting kids in and out of the back seat once car seats/boosters are put in, is also to difficult.

So, it's a lovely car... but family car it isn't..

Commenter

What?

Location

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 1:13PM

Although more expensive, the SV6 is the more relevant car to have in the "family car" class because the evoke is still mainly for fleets. It is also better equipped and has the better engine than the evoke. The SV6 would also drive better than the FWD Mazda and have more room for the family. It would seem the way a car drives is irrelevant to a car award though since most of the article is about fuel consuption and purchase price.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 3:18PM

How do SUVs do a better job than family cars? Which requirements would this be based on?

Commenter

David

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 01, 2013, 10:03PM

to, too, two.

I will go to the car yard. Will you come too? Today? you ask.My boot is too tight you say. But it fits two prams in it. Too late. You're gone.

Two words.Two uses.Two spellings.

There are other uses too. Like your car. An ornament as well as how you're transported.